Crime
66-year-old man convicted of murdering Massachusetts college student found dead on highway
In Essex County Superior Court in Lawrence Tuesday, a jury found John Carey, 66, guilty of murder in the first degree for the killing of Claire Gravel on June 29, 1986, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker confirms.
The penalty for murder in the first degree is life without the possibility of parole. Carey will return to court for sentencing on Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. Representing the Commonwealth before the Hon. Jeffrey T. Karp, Deputy First Assistant District Attorney Kim Faitella told the court that the investigative break in the case came via DNA testing which yielded samples of Carey’s DNA on the black tank top shirt used to strangle Gravel to death nearly 40 years ago.
“What he left behind was his genetic blueprint on the murder weapon,” Faitella told the jury during closing arguments Monday.
At the time of her death, Gravel was a 20-year-old Salem State student from North Andover who worked at National Braille Press. Her father, brothers, and other family attended the trial. On the witness stand, Claire’s brother, James Gravel of Manchester, N.H., remembered Claire fondly as a fun, feisty, and friendly young woman. Gravel was found dead on the side of Route 128 in Beverly.
Following the verdict, Tucker lauded the work of Faitella, Homicide Unit Chief Jessica Strasnick, Deputy Chief of Appeals David O’Sullivan, Chief of Victim/Witness Services Maureen Leal, Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Det. Lt. Robert DeMeo, former MSP Lt. Elaine Gill, who is now deputy chief of police at Merrimack College, Lt. (Ret.) Steven Buccheri, Lt. (Ret.) Jim Dowling, the late Det. Lt. Norman Zuk, and the Beverly Police Department.
“The family of Claire Gravel has waited 40 long years for justice,” said Tucker. “The prosecutors here today, together with our partners in law enforcement, never gave up on Claire’s case and today we are pleased that at least the family has some answers – some closure.”



